5PM UPDATE HURRICANE JOSE PUBLIC ADVISORY

At 500 PM, the eye of Hurricane Jose was located near latitude 16.6 North, longitude 58.3 West. Jose is moving toward the west-northwest near 17 mph. A turn toward the northwest with a decrease in forward speed is forecast tonight through the weekend.

Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph with higher gusts. Jose is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Some fluctuation in intensity, up or down, could occur during the next day or so. Gradual weakening is expected after that.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 940mb.

The British Virgin Islands remains under a Tropical Storm Watch. This means that tropical storm conditions are possible in area in the Virgin Islands by Saturday night.

The center of Jose is expected to pass about 70 miles north of the northern most Leeward Islands. Gusty squalls are possible in the British Virgin Islands late Saturday and into Sunday. Though squalls could contain gusts up to tropical storm force, we are not expected significant rain and destructive wind for the islands from Jose.

Disclaimer: The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) is not an official Meteorological Office. The Information disseminated by the Department is gathered from a number of professional sources used or contracted by the DDM to provide such information. This information is to be used as a guide by anyone who has interest in local weather conditions. By no means can the DDM or the BVI Government be held accountable by anyone who uses this information appropriately for legal evidence or in justification of any decision which may result in the loss of finances, property or life.